In current fiscal year, 23 women gave birth at home
Only 18 gave birth at health post
Geographical remoteness and lack of education to blame
The rural municipality has birthing center in all of its health posts
PALPA, June 17: Pregnant women are opting to give birth at home rather than in health facilities at Purwa Khola rural municipality-1, largely due to unawareness and geographical remoteness. While the move keeps to-be-mothers and their child at higher risks, it also has shadowed the rural municipality’s campaign of ‘Zero Home Delivery’.
While the Siluwa Health Post has set a target of 94 safe births at health facilities in the current fiscal year, it is unlikely to meet its target. On April and May, five women came each month to deliver at the health post while 23 gave birth at home.
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This fiscal year, 23 women gave birth at home while those seeking safe delivery at health facilities was only 18. According to Siluwa Health Post’s Assistant-Nurse Midwife, Basanta KC, the health post has sufficient skilled birth attendants. “However, lack of awareness and geographical remoteness is detrimental to realize Zero Home Delivery,” KC said. “Women shy from regular Ante-natal checkups and the terrain also is difficult.”
“We’ve formed Mother’s Group in each area to educate women on maternal and child health care issues. However, awareness is yet to reach each place,” KC said. In addition to geographical remoteness, insufficient rooms to keep pregnant women were also of concern. “There’s no place to stay outside and the health post’s rooms are congested.”
According to Mohan Dhakal, the rural municipality’s information officer, geographical difficulty and lack of awareness were two major causes that refrained women to head towards health post. “The rural municipality has set a target of Zero Home Delivery by next fiscal year. To do so, we’re working to expand our services while educating residents,” Dhakal said adding that all health posts were equipped with birthing centers and ANMs. “19 women gave birth at health post while 23 gave birth at home,” Dhakal said.
